SB-1244, As Passed Senate, September 14, 2004                               

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 1244

                                                                             A bill to amend 1998 PA 386, entitled                                             

"Estates and protected individuals code,"                                   

by amending section 3614 (MCL 700.3614).                                    

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1       Sec. 3614.  A special personal representative may be                        

2   appointed in any of the following circumstances:                            

3       (a) Informally by the register on the application of an                     

4   interested person if necessary to protect the estate of a                   

5   decedent before the appointment of a general personal                       

6   representative or if a prior appointment is terminated as                   

7   provided in section 3609.                                                   

8       (b) By the court on its own motion or in a formal proceeding                

9   by court order on the petition of an interested person if in                

10  either case, after notice and hearing, the court finds that the             

11  appointment is necessary to preserve the estate or to secure its            

1   proper administration, including its administration in                      

2   circumstances in which a general personal representative cannot             

3   or should not act.  If it appears to the court that an emergency            

4   exists, the court may order the appointment without notice.                 

5   (c) By the court on its own motion or on petition by an                     

6   interested person to supervise the disposition of the body of a             

7   decedent who died intestate, without heirs, and with insufficient           

8   assets to pay for a funeral or burial.  The duties of a special             

9   personal representative appointed under this subdivision shall be           

10  specified in the order of appointment and may include making                

11  arrangements with a funeral home, securing a burial plot if                 

12  needed, obtaining veteran's or pauper's funding where                       

13  appropriate, and determining the disposition of the body by                 

14  burial or cremation.  The court may waive the bond requirement              

15  under section 3603(1)(a).  The court may appoint the county                 

16  public administrator if the county public administrator is                  

17  willing to serve.